Headquarters Lake Dam dam
Headquarters Lake Dam
Headquarters Lake Dam, located in Smithville, Michigan, is a state-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Completed in 1955, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and has a hydraulic height of 9 feet, with a length of 350 feet. The dam has a maximum storage capacity of 2,146 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 185 acres, with a drainage area of 12.9 square miles.
Managed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Headquarters Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 26 feet, and its hazard potential is classified as low, with a satisfactory condition assessment as of September 2020. Despite being a moderate risk structure, the dam has not had any Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared or updated, but it meets guidelines for risk management measures.
Overall, Headquarters Lake Dam is a vital component of the water resource infrastructure in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, providing recreational opportunities while maintaining a steady water supply for the surrounding area. With its moderate risk level and satisfactory condition, ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts are crucial to ensure the continued safety and functionality of this important dam.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Headquarters Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Boardman R Above Brown Bridge Road Nr Mayfield | 249 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Sherman | 1,730 cfs | → |
| Manistee River Near Mesick | 1,500 cfs | → |
| Clam River At Vogel Center | 229 cfs | → |
| East Branch Pine River Near Tustin | 30 cfs | → |
| Pine River At High School Bridge Nr Hoxeyville | 277 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Headquarters Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Shore Drive 11283, Fife Lake Township
- North Country National Scenic Trail Fife Lake Township
- West Fahrney Road 10805, Bloomfield Township
- North Country National Scenic Trail Liberty Township
- Pitz Road 13177, Fife Lake
- Dutch John Road Garfield Township
Campgrounds
- Spring Lake State Forest Campground
- Hopkins Creek State Forest Campground
- Chippewa Landing
- Hopkins Creek Equestrian State Forest Campground & Trail Camp
- Old Us-131 State Forest Campground
- Smithville Landing
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Southeastern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Northwetern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
- Southern Boundary Of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore To Mouth At Lake Michigan
- Kings Road Bridge (2 Miles West Of Town Of Luther In T19n, R12w To Slackwater Of The State Fish Weir In T21n, R16w
Track Headquarters Lake Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Headquarters Lake Dam
Where does the data for Headquarters Lake Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Headquarters Lake Dam.